Marker attachment for corn-planters.



0 O 9 1 AW 2 T P E S D E T N E T A P 1 6 w 1 3 oo m N MARKER ATTACHMENT FOR 001m PLANTE APPLICATION FILED IEB.10,1908.

wi messes v attozuav JAMES 0. LI

MARKER ATTACHMENT FOR Specification of Letters Patent.

STON, OF CHATSVVORTH, ILLINOIS.

CORN-PLANTERS.

Patented Sept. 25, 1906.

Application filed February 10, 1906. Serial No. 800,503.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. LISTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chatsworth, in the county of Livingston and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Marker Attachments for Corn-Planters, of which the following is a ing from his seat on a planter-frame, meansbeing provided to automatically assist the movement of the marker, whereby to require a minimum of exertion in the operation.

The invention further provides a construction by which the marker per se is capable of a slight independent movement to provide for yielding when meeting obstructions.

The preferred details of construction will be described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my improved attachment in applied position, a portion of the planter-frame being shown. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the connection between the lever and marker-rod, and Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like parts are indicated by like reference-numerals throughout the several views, my improved marker comprises a plate 1, designed to be secured to the rear frame-bar 2 of a planter-frame, the securing means being such as to maintain a fixed connection between the parts and comprising clips 3 and bolts 4. The ends of the plate are provided with rearwardly-extending ears 5 for a purpose hereinafter described. A strap-frame 6, preferably of U shape, is terminally secured to the I plate, with its cross-bar 7 spaced rearward therefrom and in parallel relation thereto, the

strap being preferably so bent as to arrange the cross-bar 7 on edge, as shown.

Hangers 8 and 9 are secured to the plate 1 and cross-bar 7, respectively, being arranged in alinement longitudinally of the attachment and depending below their respective supports. An angle termed the markerdever, is mounted in the lower ends of the hangers, being provided in rear of the hanger 9 with a laterally-extending or right-angled arm 11, as shown. Between the hangers the lever 10 is enlarged and preferably of angular shape in section, as at 12, and to the upper and lower surfaces of this angular portion are secured ears 13. To the respective ears 13 are secured one end of upper and lower coil-springs 14 and 15, the opposite ends of which are secured to the ears 5 of the plate 1. By this construction tension-springs project in opposite directions from the marker-lever and are terminally secured to opposite points on said lever, whereby movement of the lever in either direction will tend to put under tension both of said springs.

An operating-lever 16 is pivotally supported in an ear 17, projecting vertically from and secured to the plate 1, and in an ear extension 18, projecting vertically from the forward hanger 8. The forward end of the lever is provided with a handle portion 19, while the rear end is flattened or otherwise shaped at 20 to engage a latch 21, pivotally supported in the upper end of the rear hanger 9. The rearwardly-extending arm of the operating-lever is in vertical alinement with the marker-lever, being spaced some distance lever 10, hereinafter above the latter, and is directly connect ed to said marker-lever by a link or rod 22, mecca-' nections respective levers being such as to permit a swiveled or universal movement between the parts.

The arm 11 of the marker-lever is terminally provided with a fixed sleeve 23, provided with an offset housing 24, practically of rectangular shape and open at the ends. The arm 11 is also provided intermediate its ends with a second sleeve 7 tion to the arm and provided with a pivotstud 26, extending laterally therefrom and terminally provided with an eye '27. The

marker proper comprises a blade 28 and a between the ends of said rod and thef' 'g 5 25, fixed with rela-' rod 29, extending therefrom, so as to position the blade on edge, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The marker is supported from the arm 11 through the medium of the plate 30, pivotally secured at its inner end upon the pivotstud 26 of the sleeve 25 and extending from said pivotal. connection through the housing 24, being terminally provided therebeyond With a U-shaped block 31, the arms of which extend in spaced parallel relation and, are provided with alined openings 32. The inner end of the rod 29 is bent laterally and seated within the eye 27, being secured in ap plied position by a nut or other fastening means, the construction permitting a pivotal movement of the rod relative to the sleeve 25. The plate 30 is of less diameter than the similar dimension of the housing 24, whereby said plate, with the attached marker-rod, is capable of a free vertical play and limited only by the upper and lower walls of the housing, whereby the blade proper is permitted to yield in a vertical direction When in use to avoid injury to the blade in use 011 stony ground or the like.

It is also desirable that means he provided. to permit a rearward yielding of the marker in the event the same should contact in use with an obstruction over which it cannot rise, and to this end I arrange the opening of the U-block toward the rear and position the rod 29 between the arms thereof, securing the same in place by a pin 33, passed through the openings 32 in the arms and beyond the rod 29 in a rearward direction. This pin is of fragile material, which will under ordinary circumstances hold the rod to its Work, but will break under excessive strain, and thereby permit a further swinging of the rod in a rearward direction upon the eye 27, thereby enabling the marker to wholly avoid an ob struction in its path. As above described, means are thus provided for a limited yielding of the marker in a rearward direction to ride over ordinary obstructions and a' complete yielding in a rearward direction to wholly avoid such obstructions as it cannot avoid by the vertical yielding.

In use the movement of the lever 19 in the proper direction will serve to detach. the same from engagement with the latch 21 and partially revolve the marker-lever 12 in its bearings, lifting the marker from the ground, the manual movement of the operating-lever being continued until the inner ends of the respective springs 14 and 15 pass the vertical center of the marker-lever in the direction of revolution, after which the springs are effective in turning the marker to the desired or new 1 position. It is understood that the springs 14 and 15 are normally under tension and that a slight movement of the operatinglever will bring this tension into play to complete the moving of the marker into the new position.

It will be obvious that the marker is readily shifted from one position to the other by a slight movement of the operating-lever, the springs 14 and 15 being of sufficient tension to materially assist or practically accomplish this movement after the initial starting movement. The rear end of the operating-lever is of course locked beneath the latch 21 after each operation thereof, said latch being preferably of the gravity type. It is to be further noted that as constructed the improvement as a whole is designed for ready application to the rear bar of the ordinary planterframe, necessitating no change or addition whatever to the structure of. the planter as in ordinary use.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A marking attachment for planters including a marker comprising a shaft revolubly mounted in the planter-frame, a lever connected to said shaft, and a plurality of springs terminally connected to the shaft and to the frame and both operating under tension to assist in the shifting of the marker.

2. An attachment for corn-planters including a marker, a shaft revolubly mounted in the planter-frame, an operating-lever connected to said shaft, and springs connected to the frame and to diametrically opposite points of the shaft, said springs being normally under tension, whereby both assist in the movement of the marker.

3. An attachment for planters including a frame and-a marker, a shaft revolubly mounted in the frame, arms projecting from diam etrically opposite points of the shaft, alever pivotally mounted on' the frame, a' link join ing the shaft and lever, and springs connected to said frame at one end and at the opposide ends to the terminals of said arms, said springs being normally under tension to both assist in the movement 'of the marker.

4. An attachment for corn planters comprising a marker freely movable'in a rearward direction, means for shifting the marker,

and means breakable under pressure to prevent the free rearward'm'ovement of the marker.

5. An attachmentfor corn-planters comprising a marker, a shifting means therefor, means for permittingalimited vertical movement ofthe marker, the marker being'adapted for a free rearward movement, and a pin breakable under pressure tonormallyprevent said free rearward movement.

6. An attachment for corn-planters comprising a marker including a blade, an arm secured thereto, a marker-lever pivotally supported relative to the planter, means for operating the lever, the 'marker rod being pivotally connected to said'lever to permit movement of the rod in a rearward direction,

I a pin breakable under pressure carried by the lever to normally revent-a rearward movement of the marker, and a connection between the rod and lever to permit a limited independent vertical movement of the rod.

7. An attachment for corn-planters comprising a marker including secured thereto, a marker-lever pivotally supported relative to the planter, means for operating the lever, the marker-rod being pivotally connected to said lever to permit movement of the rod in a rearward direction, a pin breakable under pressure carried by the lever to normally prevent a rearward movement of the marker, and a connection between the rod and lever to permit a limited independent vertical movement of the rod, and means for locking the lever in adjusted position.

8. An attachment for corn-planters com prising a frame adapted for removable connection to the planterframe, a marker-lever pivotally supported in the frame, a plurality of springs terminally connected to the lever and to the frame, said springs extending in opposite directions from the lever and being connected thereto at diametrically opposite points, an operating-lever supported on the frame and connected to the marker-lever, and a marker connected to the marker-lever to permita limited vertical play of said marker.

9. An attachment for corn-planters comprising a frame adapted for removable connection to the planter-frame, a marker-lever pivotally supported in the frame, a plurality of springs terminally connected to the lever and to the frame, said springs extending in opposite directions from the lever and being connected thereto at diametrically opposite points, an operating-lever supported on the frame and connected to the marker-lever, a

a blade, an arm I pivotally connected to the marker-lever,

means carried by said lever to limit the vertical movement of said plate, a pivotal connection between the marker-rod and the markerlever, and a U-block carried by the plate and embracing therod.

10. An attachment for corn-planters comprising a frame adapted for removable connection to the planter-frame, a marker-lever pivotally supported in the frame, a plurality of springs terminally connected to the lever and to the frame, said springs extending in opposite direction from the lever and being connected thereto at diametrically opposite points, an operating-lever supported on the frame and connected to the'marker-lever, a marker connected to the marker-lever to permit a limited vertical play of said marker, a marker comprising a blade and a rod, a plate pivotally connected to the marker-lever, means carried by said lever to limit the vertical movement of said plate, a pivotal connection between the marker-rod and the markerlever, a U-block carried by the plate and embracing the rod, and a pin breakable under pressure mounted in the U-block to normally prevent movement of the marker-rod on its pivotal connection.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of'two witnesses.

JAMES C. LISTON.

Witnesses:

M. REISING, WILLIAM HIoKEY. 

